Machine



(Model.) t 3 sheets-sheet 1. E. J. STERLING.

` PAPER GUTTING MACHINE.

No. 370,287. Patented Sept.20, 1887.

(Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

E. J. STERLING. PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

No. 370,287. Patented Sept. 20, 1887.,

INVENTOH 121% WITNESSES; www.

s sheets-sheen 3..'

(Model.)

' E. J. STERLING.

PAPER CUTTING MACHINE.

10.370,287. Patented Sept. 20, 1887.

F l I ll NTTED STATES` Trice.

PATENT PAPER-CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECPIC'ATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,287l datedSeptember 20, 1887.

Application led May 8, 1886. Serial No. 201,557.

To all whom it may concern.'

rBe it known that I, EZRA J. STERLING, of Brooklyn, Kings county, in theState of New York, have invented a new and useful lmprovement inPaper-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following'is afull and accurate description of the same.

All paper-cutting machines operated by power heretofore may be arrangedin three classes with respect to the clamping mechanism: first, thosehaving a clamp operated by hand preliminary to the action of the knife,and usually by a hand-screw; second, those wherein the clamp constitutesthe fulcrum whereon the power rests to actuate the knife; in thesemachines the' pressure of the clamp is proportionate to the resistanceencountered by the knife in passing through the paper; third, thosewherein the clamp is actuated coincidently with the knife by a cam orsimilar device irrespective of the resistance encountered by the knife.The first-named clamps the paper independent ofthe cut, and requires theexercise of considerable manual strength to effect the requisiteclamping pressure. The second clamps the paper by power coincidentlywith the cut. It affords only a constant ratio between the clampingpressure and resistance to the cut, and it is frequently desirable tochange that ratio by an increase in the clampof compression is the samewhether the package of paper be thick or thin, or whether it be soft orhard, and, besides, the labor of compression is coincident butindependent of the laborof cutting, and therefore both duties areencountered at the same time and a corresponding increase of power isrequired.

My invention clamps the paper by power under control derived from themotive power for the machine, but previous to the action of the knife,so that the objection to the firstnamed machines is obviated, becausethe clamping is independent of the strength of the attendant. Theobjections to the second and third classes are obviated because theclamping pressure is independent of the cutting pressure, and becausethe duty of clamping the paper is not coincident with the duty of(Model.)

cutting the same, and therefore an increase of motive power is notrequired.

My invention therefore essentially consists in combining with the primemover of the cutting-machine separate and controllable devices foractuating the clamp and for actuating the cutter, so that the clampingis effected by power and irrespective of the strength of the attendant,and the power operations for actuating the clamp and cutter take placeat different moments and without requiring an increase in the'motivepower.

It further consists in the novel mechanical structure of parts wherebythe transmission of power from the prime mover to the clamp is effectedby means of controllable frictional contacts.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of mymachine. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section below the table. Fig. 3 is anend elevation, partly in section. 5,16, and 7 are details.

A is the frame of the machine, usually and preferably constructed ofcast-iron.

Bis theknife,arranged to move with a downward and endwise movement ordraw cut, as usual. The knife B is actuated by means of ltheconnecting-rods O, levers D, and cranks E on shaft S, which are actuatedby connection with the constantly running main shaft F throughcounter-shaft T and pinions u, W, W',- and b. The levers D are pivotedto the frame A; The running shaft F is provided with a clutch, a,whereby the crank-shaft S and intermcdiate gearing may be thrown out ofconnection and allowed to rest at any time. Each lever D is providedwith a longitudinal groove or slot, d, and the crank Eenters and engagesin said slot. When the crank revolves in the direction of the curvedarrow,it moves from its initial position, as shown in Fig.'3, outward`toward the extremity of said lever D, and consequently with anincreasing power as the cutting progresses. Also, the crank E depressesthe knife during that half of its circuit most distant from the axialcenter of thelever D, and elevates the knife during the remaining halfof its circuit nearest said axial center. Therefore the knife iselevated more rapidly than depressed. n

The running shaft F also has upon it two Figs. 4,

IOO

friction-clutches, G H, individually under control ofthe clutch-rods efand brakes x y, which may be operated by hand or by the tilting treadleor foot-lever i. The miter-wheels g h arcin engagement with the Wheel 7con the shaft I. When the clutches G H are both outof engagement withshaft F, then the shaft I Will be at rest; but since the wheels g h bothrevolvein the same direction, but engage the wheel la on opposite sides,it follows when one of said clutches is in engagement said shaft I willbe caused to revolve in one direction, and when the other of saidclutches is in engagement, then the shaft I will revolve in the oppositedirection. The clutch rods e f are coupled to the tilting treadle, sothat said clutches G H are simultaneously moved in opposite directionsas to the wheel 7c, and therefore they cannot be both put in engagementwith the shaft I at the same time.

L is the clamp,moving as usual in guides in the framev A. It is providedat its back with cogracks in mesh with pinions Z at each end of theshaft M, so that as said shaft is rotated the clamp will be uniformlymoved up -or down.y At one end the shaft M is provided witha worm-wheel,N, which meshes with a worm-screw, O, the shaft whereof is providedwitha bevel-pinion iu mesh with a similar pinion, u, on the shaft P,which is provided withahand-wheel,m. Byrevolvingsaidhandwheel the clampmay be moved up or down. The shaft P is also provided with africtiondrum, Q, provided with a clamp-screw, n, so that its frictionalcontact with the hub R may be varied as desired. The drum Q is pro--vided with the two lugs q q, to engage an arm, S, which is keyed fastto the shaft P, so that when said drum is revolved the shaft P will becaused to rotate also. The hub R is loose upon the shaft P, and isprovided with the sprocket -wheel r. A chain passes over saidsprocket-wheel and over a similar sprocketwheel, t, on the shaft I.`Therefore, whenever said shaft I is caused to revolve, as hereinbeforedescribed, motion will be transmitted to the screw O and clamp by meansof said chain and friction-drum Q, and the clamp will thus be operatedby power from the constantly-running shaft F, independent, as to timeand power, of the mechanism which takes motion from the shaft F toactuate the knife.

The pinion u is keyed fast to the shaft, but is provided withratchet-teeth, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to engage with a pawl, v,pivoted to the end of the hub R.. Therefore the shaft P may be rotatedbackward by hand independent of hub R. The friction of hub R and drum Qwill, however, be always sufficient to causethe rotation ofshaft P underordinary circumstances.

The slide w at one end of rthe frame has upon it a projecting eye, y,through which a rod, j, passes. Said rod j is connected at its upper endwith a bell-crank, which is coupled with the clutch-rod z. On the upwardstroke of the knife B the eye y engages the stop-button on the rod j,and causes the clutch-rod z to be pushed aside and the clutch a to bedisengaged. The knife then comes to rest.

The direction in which the shaft F will be p revolved when the machineis running depends upon the direction of revolution of the mainlineshaft with respect to the cutting-machine, and it is apparent that theclamp will be caused to descend by engagement of' clutch G when shaft Frevolves in one direction and by clutch H when said shaftV is sufficientto overcome the frictional contacts and cause the hub R to slip in thedrum. When this has occurred, or the at tendant thinks the pressureattained is sufficient, the clutch G or H is 4disengaged and the clampis retained in the position attained. The clutch a is then moved intoengagement, and the knife descends with all the power of the runningshaft, or so much thereof as may be required to sever the paper. Bythese means the clamping andthe cutting are independently effected bythe same running shaft, and each may employ the entire power of themachine.

Having described my invention, I claiml. In a paper cutting machineprovided with a continuously-running shaft and a knife actuatedthereby,'the combination of a' clamp, a friction clutch, and gearing totransmit motion from said shaft to said clamp independent of themovement of said knife, whereby the clamp and knife may be separatelyand independently actuated by said shaft, substantially as set forth.

2. In a paper-cutting machine, a running shaft, F, provided withclutches a G H, aknife, B, and a clamp, L, combined With mechanismseparately controlled by said clutches,where by the knife and clampmaybe independently actuated by said running shaft.

3. The running shaft F, provided with the clutches G H and wheels g h,combined with the wheel 7c, shaft I, and friction-connection Q on theshaft P, and its connections with the clamp, whereby the clamp may beactuated by power, substantially as set forth. l

4. The combination of the shaft P, the pin ion u and arm S, keyed fastthereon, the loose drum R, with its sprocket r, and the frictiondrum Q,substantially as set forth.

E. J. STERLING.

Witnesses: v

A. P. .BERTnoNm JOHN WHITE.

